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karyokinesis

karyokinesis

9.9
A process when a cell's nucleus divides during mitosis or meiosis
  • noun
  • /ˌkɛəriəʊkɪˈniːsɪs/
  • Specialized
: cariocinesis
  • During karyokinesis, the cell's nucleus divides to ensure each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.

Examples

  • In this review, we focus on a critical component of karyokinesis, the partitioning of the genome contained in the nucleus.

    Academic text (2009)
  • This is accomplished by the mitotic spindle, a highly conserved feature of karyokinesis in the cells of multitudes of organisms that have been examined by light or electron microscopy.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The study of karyokinesis helps scientists understand how cells replicate and maintain genetic material.

  • Errors in karyokinesis can lead to conditions like cancer, as cells may not divide properly.

Surface Forms

karyokinesis singular
karyokineses plural

Morphology

karyokinesis = kinesis (opaque) = karyo + kinesis + karyo

The combining form 'karyo-' and the technical term 'kinesis' are specialized Greek-derived elements unfamiliar to general learners, so the meaning is not recoverable by average B1 learners.

Etymology

Karyokinesis comes from Greek parts karyo- meaning 'nucleus' and -kinesis meaning 'movement', the same root as kinetic. So karyokinesis literally means the 'movement of the nucleus', which helps you remember it is the step when a cell's nucleus divides during cell division.